Your Vogue history

Michael Kors

AS much as we loved Michael Kors' foray into Sixties Mad Men territory last season, it was nice to see him back in the here and now for spring, miming what he called Triple A: Architectural, Athletic, American style.

And how? To the tune of the Beach Boys and the Go-Gos, with Bette Midler, Blake Lively, Heidi Klum, Rachel Zoe and the ubiquitous Joy Bryant sitting ringside, Kors sent out a seemingly never-ending parade (73 looks in all!) of the luxe, upbeat classic sportswear that has earned him fans from Dallas to Dubai.

It was pretty clear from the first exit – Carmen Kass in a board shorts, striped sweater and giant patent visor combo – that the surf was up at Kors' beachside Cabana. But along with the granny panty bikinis and bathing trunks, the designer also had a few sporty tricks up his sleeve, which came by way of neoprene dresses with sexy contrast seaming, comfy-chic habitai silk track suits in royal blue and lipstick red, along with colour blocked golf shirts and gingham pants for the guys.

In fact, gingham featured heavily here, as did polka dots, stripes, plaids and chevron patterns. There were, however, some ridiculously over-scale patent totes that were almost as big as the models carrying them, along with some cute satchels with nautical rope trim.

And the architecture card? Well, that played out via a square shouldered scarf shirt and an origami wrap dress, and Kors combined his Triple As in a blue and white striped ladder back dress and in the three finale gowns, minimalist columns of bonded jersey that featured racer-backs or scuba details and moved with the fluidity and ease of sportswear.